Air cooler for motor vehicles



28, 1951 w. w. GASKELL, JR 2,565,767

AIR COOLER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORR 28, 1951 w. w. GASKELL, JR 2,565,767

AIR COOLER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June '7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Aug. 28, 1951 UNITED AIR COOLER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES William W.Gaskell, Jr., Penn Township, Allegheny County, Pa.

Application June 7, 1949, Serial No. 97,667

11 Claims.

This invention pertains generally to air cooling devices and moreparticularly to those which serve for lowering the temperature of theair within the closed bodies of motor vehicles driven by internalcombustion engines.

One object of my invention is to provide an air cooler which volatilizesliquid motor fuel such as gasoline, alcohol, benzol, etc. in vacuumproduced in an evaporation tank by the suction effect of the internalcombustion engine thereby absorbing heat from the air surrounding thetank.

Another object is to create an air cooling device employing anevaporation tank supplied with a portion of the fuel consumed by thevehicle engine, into which fuel air is introduced under atmosphericpressure and the staurated air emerging therefrom is led into thesuction manifold of the vehicle engine to be used as part of the charge.

Another object is to provide an air cooler of the type underconsideration which is equipped with a jacketed evaporation tank havingribs connecting the inside and outside tank walls forming a cellularstructure of relatively large surface area in order to efficiently coolthe air between and adjacent said walls.

Another object is to create an air cooler having an evaporation tank inwhich air saturated with fuel vapors is moved vertically upwardly andthe surrounding air moved downwardly thereby increasing theeffectiveness of the heat exchange.

A further object is to create a cooling device of the characterdescribed that absorbs heat from the surrounding air'by evaporating fuelin a tank in which it is kept at a predetermined constant level anddrawing atmospheric air therethrough under vacuum and feeding the fuelvapor saturated air through regulator valves into the engine manifoldfor decreasing the excess fuel richness of the total charge supplied bythe carburetor and the air cooler thereby increasing the fuel economy ofthe vehicle engine.

A still further object is to provide a device of the type set forth thatreduces the humidity of the air by condensing partof the vapors carriedthereby and has means for filtering and collecting the condensate asdistilled water usable in the storage battery of the vehicle.

Another object is to create a vehicle body air cooler that evaporatesfuel under vacuum in a tank communicating with the suction manifold ofthe engine of the vehicle and has at least one check valve to preventback fire to reach the fuel in the evaporation tank.

Another object is to provide an air cooler for motor vehicles whichemploys an evaporation vessel storing fuel into which an air filterconnected tubular intake member conducts the air from heat insulatedchamber provided with selectively operative drainage means andcommunication with the atmosphere, leading it through the stored fueltherein thereby saturating the filtered air with fuel vapors andintroducing the resulting mixture into the manifold of the internalcombustion engine of the vehicle by its suction effect, as part of thecharge; the vacuum in the evaporation vessel bein used to promoteevaporation of the fuel therein causing absorption of heat from thevessel and the adjacent air in the vehicle body; the purpose of the airfilter being also to save the fuel from air-borne contaminating matter.

A further object is to create a cooler of the type mentioned in whichfuel is vaporized in a vessel by an air stream caused by the suctioneffect of the vehicle engine and the produced air-fuel mixture isdeliquifled before introduction into the suction manifold by means thatchange abruptly the direction of its flow thereby separating the heavierdroplets which then are returned to said vessel for repeatedvaporization.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described whichemploys a fuel evaporation vessel having a cellular jacket and fan meansto draw outside air with variable speed through said jacket forefiiciently cooling it through heat exchange with said jacketed vessel.

Another object is to provide an air cooler for closed motor vehicleswhich is inexpensive in manufacture, safe in use and efficient inoperation.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the artfrom the following description and the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a semi diagrammatic elevational view of the first preferredembodiment of my invention, showing in section the jacketed fuelevaporation tank mounted on a vertical partition or dash board of themotor vehicle the engine of which is illustrated in part only andindicating the suction manifold, carburetor, air filter, and supplypiping arranged under a hood, the evaporation tank serving also as fuellevel maintaining float compartment;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 in Fig.1 and showing the evaporation tank and the surge tank with theirinternal equipment;

Fig. 3 is the elevational sectional view of the 3 second preferredembodiment of my invention showing a jacketed evaporation tank connectedto an exterior float chamber and a surge tank;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, chiefly in section, taken on broken line 4-4 inFig. 3 and showing the evaporation tank and the float chamber, thelatter with its cover removed;

Fig. 5 is a partial elevational view of the charge control device of athird preferred embodiment of my invention differing from the controlsof the previous two embodiments in that respect that the previouslyindependent control devices for the charges supplied by the carburetorby the evaporation tank, respectively, are here interconnected so thatthe controlof the car buretor throttle valve automatically controls itvalve for the fuel vapor saturated. air from the evaporation tank, thelatter having also an independent control valve.

Identical parts are designated by the same referencenumerals throughoutthe several views of the drawing while structural elements differingonly in dimensions but serving the samepurpose are marked with. primednumerals.

Referring closer to Figures 1 and 2, representing the first preferredembodiment of my invention, Ill is the evaporation tank in general whichis shown to be a vertical jacketed cylindrical ves-. sel having internal.wall I2 provided with circular flange Madjoining its top .portion andwith bottom plate I6, its. external. wall i8 being connected to theinternal wall IZby preferably radial ribs 222.

Asuitable cover ZLWith gasket 23 is sealingly fastened by screws 25 toflange ill airtightly closing the evaporation tank I0. Below bottomplate 55 and within outer wall I 8 a header compartment 2?; is providedfor collecting the cooled air which compartmenthasa preferably slopingbottom 28. An outletspout 36 conducts the cooled air fromcornpartmentfifithrough an attached suitable conduit .32 (shown broken away) whichsnugly fits. outlet spout 3i) and may have any desired shape andvdimensions to direct the cooled air. to desired locations. within thevehicle body.

At the. lowest point of the header compartment 26 a drain opening. 33 isprovided in which drain pipe .34, having valve .36, is sealinglyfastened. Fan 38 is accommodated in compartment 28 and rotatably mountedby variable speed electric motor is which is preferably mounted outsidethe compartment 26* Motorfiflreceives electric current from an outsidesource such as the storage hatterylnot shown of the vehicle throughleads Hand. switch A l- Arheostat or similar speed regulating deviceliiis provided for changing the speed of motor 46,. Drain pipe 36empties into filter. 47 communicating with distilled water reservoir 48for the condensed and filtered water. Through drain valve 50 thedistilled water can be released for possible use in the storage batteryof the vehicle.

Outside wall I8 of evaporation tank Iii is provided with lugs 52 havingthreaded holes for screws 54 for mounting the tank on a suitablestationary part of the vehicle body such as dash board 55. Aspiratorpiping 56, one open end of which is fastened onto cover 22 reaches withits other, vertically downwardly extending end 57 into surge tank 58which is preferably cylindrical and is provided at its top portion witha circular flange 59 towhich cover so and gasket 5! are sealinglyattached by suitable means such as screws 62, shown. A rigid supportsuch as bracket 64, shown, fixes surge tank 58 to evaporation tank iiito form one unit; the bracket 64 being-fastened to the tanks by suitableattachment means such as screws 55. It is obvious that the tanks may beformed as one integral piece. Drain pipe 66 connects the bottom of surgetank '58 to the middle region of evaporation tank I0 while overfiow pipe68 leads from the bottom portion of surge tank 58 to pipe iii whichconnects the bottom portion of evaporation tank I0 to the fuel reservoirI2 of themotor vehicle. Valve HI serves to open orclose, respectively,the pipe 10 which has also a branch line 16 leading toward the groundand is regulated by valve 78 for draining possibly contaminated fueloccasionally from evaporation tank I0. Pipe branch I6 and valve 18constitute fuel drainage means for evaporating tank I I! bypassing fueltank 12 of the vehicle, hence, to these I; refer to as: bypassfuel-drainage means. The vertical locations of the tanks is-such thatsurge tanks bottom is somewhat higher than the fuel level in theevaporation tank allowing. fuel collecting in the former to drain intothe latter.

Air intake piping 19 is mounted on cover 22. and reaches through it withone-of its end portions close to the bottom plate It of tank I0; it isprovided at its low end with a difiuser head 3i} having holes SI on itsupper and side surfaces. The outer end of air intake piping 19.15connected to air filter 82 of any approved design which is accommodatedin compartment 84: held by bracket 85 rigidly fastened to dash board 55by screws 86.

Hood 88 covers the engine region of the. motor vehicle and snugly fitsthe open top of chamber 84 which communicates with the atmospherethrough holes 90. in hood 88. Chamber 84 is encased in heat insulatingvcovering 92 in order to keep the temperature of the air within it sub-.stantially equal to that of the outside atmosphere. At the bottomportion of chamber 84 a drain pipe 94 is arranged having valve 96.Intake. pipe 19 communicates with chamber 86 only through filter 82 toprevent any contamination of the fuel in evaporating tank It by dust orother air-born impurities; hence, chamber 84, filter 82, drain pipe 94and valve 96 areessential parts of the invention and are included theintake means. Airtightly fixedintocover 22 is a tubular bar or pipenipple 98 reaching downwardly inside of the tank It and is outwardlyconnected to fuel supply piping we provided with valve Edi. At the.lower end of nipple 98 seal-ingly-fixed thereto is valve block I92having valve seat Hi4 that coacts with a suitably shaped valve stem I96slidingly arranged in sleeve I08 fastened to float H0 which-is fulcrumedat M2 to lugs H6 forming an integral part of valve block I02. Stop IIBlimits the downward amplitude of the oscillations of float I It. Duct IIS in valve block I02 connects valve seat I04 with pipe nipple 98. Theseparts and pump Hill-I include in supply means. H8 is the charge deliverypipe sealingly fixed into cover 6!) of surge tank 53' and leadingthrough check valve I26 and regulating valve I22 into the manifold I23of the engine generally designated by 52! (shown broken away) of themotor vehicle. 'The control arm I25of regulating valve I22 is connectedby link I26 (shown broken away) fulcrumed at I27 and I28; respectively,to hand regulator, generally denoted by I29, its lever I30 oscillatingaround pin I3I mounted in bracket I32 which is fixed to a suitablestationary part such as cover 22. A toothedsegment I33 isrigidlyattached to bracket l32 .for coacting With spring loaded pawl-I34 locking valve I22 in any desired position. Hand regulators ofthiskind are well known and may be obtained readily on the market,hence, further detailed description and illustration of it isunnecessary. A conventional air filter I35 is attached to carburetor I36of known and approved design which is connected by fuel supply pipingI38 to variable delivery pump :40 connected by suitable pipe line I4I tothe fuel reservoir 12 of the motor vehicle. By suitable throttle valve I42 controlled by conventional linkage I43 (shown broken away) theoperator regulates the main fuel and air charge entering from thecarburetor I36 the intake manifold I23 of engine I24.

The above described first embodiment of the invented air-cooler operatesas follows:

Fuel pump I40 driven by engine I24 delivers fuel through piping I38 intocarburetor I36 and also through open valve IOI, piping I and pipe nipple98 into duct II6 of valve block I02 located in tank I0. Until the normalfuel level is reached, the float I I0 is oscillated downwardly aroundfulcrum pin H2 and valve stem I06 is separated from seat I04 admittingfuel into evaporation tank IIJ. When the predetermined normal level isreached valve stem I06 closes duct IIG cutting off further fuel supply.When engine I24 is in operation vacuum is produced in intake manifoldI23 and air is drawn through charge delivery pipe II8, surge tank 58 andaspirator piping 56 from the interior of evaporation tank I0 in thedirection of the single headed arrows. Thus in the evaporation tank I0vacuum is produced drawing atmospheric air through hood openings 96,compartment 84, filter 82, air intake piping 'IS, diffuser 80 and holes8I through the fuel supply tank I0 (as shown by double headed arrows),this air becoming saturated with fuel vapors. According to the law ofcom municating vessels the fuel level inside intake pipe I3 will beequal to that in evaporating tank I0 before operation and somewhat lowerduring operation, the niveau difference being proportional to therespective pressure difference. The fuel in tank I0 is subjected toaccelerated evaporation due to the vacuum therein; the fuel vapors,droplets and air mixture, passes through the aspirator piping 56 and 51into surge tank 58 in a downward flow which is suddenly reversedupwardly. Due to this 180 change of flow direction the heavier fueldroplets will separate from the air and collect at the bottom of surgetank 58 from where they are drained through pipe 66 into evaporationtank I0. The purpose of the separation of the heavier fuel droplets fromthe fuel vapor and air (called deliquification) is to subject thedroplets to repeated vaporization in the tank and also to furnish aleaner fuel-air mixture for the engine. From surge tank 68 the fuel andair mixture is drawn through charge delivery pipe I I8, check valve I28and regulating valve I22 into the manifold I23 where it mixes with themain charge coming from carburetor I36 and with it enters the cylindersof the engine I24 for combustion. Overflow pipe 68 guards againstflooding of the surge tank 58 through failure of valve stem I 36 toclose duct II6 for any reason (breakage of fioat and valve mechanism,solid particles in fuel, etc.), in such case the overflowing-fuel I isreturned through pipes 68 and I0 to the fuel reservoir I2 of thevehicle.

The control of the vapor saturated air stream. drawn from evaporationtank I0 into the manifold I23 is effected by settinglever I30, of handregulator I29, link I26 and with it control arm I of regulator valve I22according to need.

Check valve I20 prevents any back fire in the manifold I23 to reachsurge tank 58 and evaporation tank I0. Heat insulated compartment 84accommodating air filter 82 is tightly covered by hood 88. It serves thepurpose that heated air from the engine region of the vehicle should beprevented from entering air filter 62; furthermore, if fuel should beejected through the air intake piping I8 and air filter 82 fromevaporation tank I0 due to failure of the check valve I20, this fuelshould be isolated from the engine region as wellas from the interiorspace of the body of the vehicle. Thus compartment 84 decreases firehazard and increases safety of the operator and passengers. Severalcheck valves may be employed.

Evaporation tank I0 may be drained of fuel through piping I3 and valveI4 into the fuel reservoir I2 of the vehicle, or, by closing valve I4and opening valve I8, through branch pipe I6 into a waste receptacle(not shown). The air in the body of the vehicle enters the spacesseparated by ribs 20 in the evaporation tank jacket between inner wallI2 and outer wall I8 due to'the suction effect of fan 38 and movesdownwardly accelerated by its increasing specific weight. Walls I2 andI8 and ribs 20 are dimen-' sionedsuitably to offer a sufliciently largearea for eflicient heat exchange. The downwardly flowing cooled air(moving in the direction of triple head-ed arrows) is forced throughoutlet spout 30 into duct 32 and conducted to points determined by endopenings thereof arranged in the vehicle body. Fan driving electricmotor 40 is of the variable speed type receiving electric currentthrough leads 42 from the storage battery (not shown) of the vehicle.The speed of the motor and that of the fan can be conveniently regulatedby setting rheostat or other known regulator 46. Increasing the speed ofmotor 40 the velocity of the downward air current in the tank. jacketand with it the rate of the transfer of heat between evaporation tank I0and the cooled air is increased; slowing down motor 40 will have theopposite effect. It willbenoted that the fuel vapor saturated chilledair inside the evaporation tank It moves upwardly in opposite directionto that followed by the air cooled in the jacket, hence their relativevelocities are increased and with it the efficiency of the cooling. Whenengine I25, is idling regulator valve I22 is preferably set to a smalleropening, while running the engine at high speed by opening throttle I42necessitates the full opening of regulator valve I22. The latter settingwill not only produce a greater air cooling effect in the vehicle bodybut will also reduce the fuel richness of the total charge entering thecylinders which is generally excessive when the'engine is running abovemedium speed. Such a correctionof the charge will result in fuel savingin the operation of the vehicle. n

The constant draining of the water condensate from the headercompartment 26 through drain pipe 34 results in a partial dehumidifyingof the air delivered at spout 38 which-in combination with the effectedcooling-gives a unitary. result close to air conditioning of the bodyspace of the vehicle. Asa byproduct of this air dehumidifying distilledwater is produced and collectedby means of filter '41 and reservoir .48

2 which distilled water maybe used for replenishing the storage batteryof the vehicle.

Figures 3 and 4 show the second embodiment of my invention which differsfrom the first embodiment chiefly in that it provides for a separatefloat chamberlocatedoutside of the evaporation tank.

The evaporation tank, generally designated by 202, has an internal:wall-2&2 and an outer Wall 284 connected byr-ibs 288'. The internal wall202 is provided at its top with a flange 288 and at the bottom withaplate-2 Hi from which cylindrical tubular risers 212- upwardly protrude;these are connected: by-ribs2l 4. with each other and with the innerwall 202. Below plate 2!- is a preferably sloping bottom 2H forming withoutside walls 284 a header-compartment 2 I3 having a cooled air deliveryspout 30" to which a snugly fitting conduit-32 maybe connected.

Hollow cover 2H5. clcsesthe open top of' eVap-- oration tank 208 and,with. interposed gasket 2I8, is sealingly fastened to. flange 282. byscrews 228. The cavity 222 in. cover 216 communicates with the inside ofevaporation tank 280 by a series of downwardly protruding nozzles 224the lower ends of which reach-close to bottom plate 2H3 in which duct2'26} isprovided leading to the bottom of externally located. floatchamber 228. Holes 238 connect duct; 22.6 toxthe inside of evaporationtank 280: and holes 232 in the bottom portions of the ribs 2'I.4..iandof the risers 24-2, respectively; interconnect the spaces within evaport n tank 220. Rib 2:354 r'eidlyties. float chamher 228 to evaporation;tank 200;.as a unit. Float chamber 228 is an upwardl Qpen cylindricalvessel having circular flange 235; at; its top portion to which gasket2,36 and; cover 238. are airtightly fastened by sorews 248'. From cover238 downwardly protrudes lug 242 carrying fulcrum pin 244 thatoscil-latably mounts float 246 hav- I ing fixed thereto sleeve 248sl-idinglyaccommodating valve stem :51} that. coacts with valve seat 252provided in cover 238; Fuel supply piping IE8 is sealinglyfixed at oneend into cover 238 and communicates through duct 254 therein with valveseat252. Piping I88 is provided with valve l8! and leads to the fuelfeed line I38 con-- nected to the variable deli-very fuel pump I48 insame manner as is shown and described in connection with Figures 1 and2.

Aspirator piping 56 leads sealing-1y through evaporation tank cover H6and connects. the inside of. tank 288 to the inside of surge tank 58into which it reaches by the end piece 57' fastened into cover 68. Drainpipe 66' connects surge tank 53 with float chamber 258 abovev the normalfuel level therein and overflow pipe 68 leads through drain pipe 10'(shown broken away) to the fuel reservoir in the same way as shown inFig. 1.

Sealingly fastened to float chamber cover BI], is charge delivery pipeII'8' which leads the fuel vapor-air mixture from surge tank 58 throughcheck valve I20 and regulator valve I22 into suction manifold I 23 inthe same manner as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Air intake piping 258 connects cavity 222 in tank cover 2I6 and with itair nozzles 224' evaporation tank 288Iwith air filter 82 accommodated ina heat insulated compartment 84 under the hood 88 exactly in the samemanner as described with the first embodiment.

Omitted from Figures 3 and 4 and from their description are thefollowing parts which are identical with the corresponding ones used inth fi rstembodimentrepresented by- Figures 1 and 2:

Insulated chamber 84 with itsdrain pipe 94 and valve :96, condensedwater filter 47, distilled water reservoir 48 with tap valve 50, fueldrain branch pipe 16 and valve 18, rheostat or speed changer 46 and handcontroller I29. All these parts are includedin the combination formingthe second preferred embodiment of my invention and they are assembledsubstantially in the same manner as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In the header compartment 213, preferably within outlet spout 3-2 a fan38' is arranged driven by variable speed electric motor 48 whichreceives current through leads 42 switch 44 and speed regulator 46 fromthe storage battery of the 4 vehicle.

The drainage of fuelfrom: evaporation tank 280 and float chamber 228-iseffected by drain pipe 18' which, after opening valve !4, leads the fuelinto fuel reservoir 12. If this fuel is contaminated it is allowed to goto waste by closing valve 14, opening valve 18 in branch pipe '16 whichdirects the contaminated fuel toward the ground. Branch pipe 76, valve78, fuel reservoir 12 are not shown in Figures 3- and 4 as theirarrangement is the same as those of the corresponding part-sin-Figure 1. The om'ission of these and above enumerated omitted partsserve the simplification of the drawing and should not be construed tomean their elimination from the combination representing the secondembodiment of my-invention.

The operation of the second preferred embodiment is in principle-thesame as that of the first: air is drawn from the atmosphere throughchamber 84, air filter 82, air intake piping 258, cover cavity 222-,nozzles 224 and the stored fuel into evaporation tank 288 andsubsequently drawn out therefrom into manifold I23 through aspiratorpiping 5t, surge tank 58, charge de-- livery pipe H8, check valve I28and regulator valve I22. Also in this embodiment the fuel level withinnozzles; 224', risers 212- ofevaporat i tank-288M11 be the same when thedevice is not in operation-and their difference during operation will beproportional to the respective pressure differences, The air-fuel vaporstream is caused, by the vacuum developed by the-suc tioneffect orinternal combustion en in :24. This suction effectiprodu'c'es a vacuumin the evaporation tank- 280 also promoting the volatilization ofthe-fuel therein. In surge tank 58 the heavier fuel droplets areseparated from the vapor-air mixture due to the sudden reversal of thedirection of thefiow: the collected fuel is returned from surge tank 58through drain pipe 66' into float chamber 223. In thisman'ner,identically-to the first embodiment, the fuel vapor-air mixture isdeliquified and drawn into manifold, I23 where it mixes with themainchargecom'ing through throttle valve I42 from carburetor"Bland-afterwards enters, aspartof the total charge, the enginecylinders for combustion. As the fuel vapor-air mixture from surge tank58-is considerably leaner in fuelthan the charge coming from carburetorI36, the richness of the latter increasing with increased speed ofengine I24; the final mixtureofthe two charges will producesubstantially the proper and most economical charge, theoperatorbeingable to set regulator val e I22 according" to need.

The cooling and dehumidification' of theair traveling downwardly injacket of evaporation tank 200 in contact with inside wall 202, outsidewall 204 and ribs 206 and delivered by spout 30 into conduit 32 iseffected in the same way as in the first embodiment by the suctioneffect of fan 38 driven by electric motor 40'. The collection ofdistilled water is achieved in the same manner as shown in Figure 1through drain pipe 34, valve 36, filter 41 and water reservior 48.

Fig. 5 illustrates the third embodiment of the invented cooler whichdiffers from the previously described ones only in the regulation of theflow of the fuel vapor-air mixture by the addition to the regulatorvalve I22 of a throttle valve 300 that is connected to, and operates inunison with, throttle valve I42 controlling the charge from carburetorI36 to manifold I23 of engine I24.

In this embodiment charge delivery pipe H8" connects surge tank 58 tomanifold I23 and inserted in pipe H8" is throttle valve 308 havingcontrol arm 30! connected by link 302, fulcrumed by pins 303 and 304, toarm 306 of throttle valve I42 which is set by the operator throughlinkage I43. Throttle valves I42 and 300 are so arranged that when theone owns or closes the other one does the same. In case that there aremore than one carburetor and/or more than one throttle valve I42 for thesame engine the throttle valve 30!] should operate in unison with theothers.

The operation of the third embodiment of my invention is the same asthat of the previously described embodiments except for the regulationof the fuel vapor-air mixture which is made automatic, responsive to theregulation of the conventional throttle valve I42 effected by theoperator. Furthermore this instantaneous, automatic regulation issubjected to a basic or stationary adjustment of the flow of the fuelvaporair mixture by setting hand regulator I25 and with it regulatorvalve I22. v

In addition to the charge controlling mechanism shown in Figure 5 thethird embodiment of my invention includes all the parts composing eitherthe first or the second embodiment.

In all three embodiments the charge delivery pipes H8, H8 and H8",respectively, may have a branched connection to manifold I23 instead ofthe single one for more equally distributing the fuel vapor-air mixturetherein.

The distilled Water reservoir 48 may be heat insulated to retardevaporation of its contents in all three embodiments.

Although I have fully described and illustrated three specificembodiments of my invention I do not wish to be limited to these to theexclusion of equivalent structures. It will be, therefore, understoodthat various changes and modifications may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention, hence,

' what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is all thatis embraced by the appended claims:

1. Air cooler for motor vehicles, having an internal combustion engineprovided with a carburetor connected to an intake manifold through athrottle valve, comprising tank means adapted to store liquid fuel,supply means for keeping the stored fuel at a substantially constantlevel, intake means for drawing air from the atmosphere under vacuumthrough the stored fuel into said tank means for saturating it withfuelvapors, deliquifying means for separating the heavier fuel droplets fromsaid fuel vapor satu- 10 rated air for returning them into said tankmeans, charge delivery means for introducing the deliquified fuel-airmixture into said manifold, regulator means for controlling the flow ofsaid fuel-air mixture into said manifold and fan means for moving airadjacent to said tank means along its walls for cooling it by heatexchange therebetween, said intake means including a heat-insulatedchamber communicating with the atmosphere and with said tank means andan air filter inserted between said chamber and said tank means to forma sole passage therebetween, whereby the fuel in said tank means isprotected from air-borne contaminating matter.

2. Air cooler for a motor vehicle, having an internal combustion engineprovided with a carburetor connected to an intake manifold through athrottle valve, comprising tank means adapted to store liquid fuel,supply means for keeping the stored fuel at a substantially constantlevel, intake means for drawing air from the atmosphere under vacuumthrough the stored fuel into said tank means for saturating it with fuelvapor, deliquifying means for separating the heavier fuel droplets fromsaid fuel vapor saturated air for returning them into said tank means,charge delivery means for introducing the deliquified fuel-air mixtureinto said manifold, regulator means for controlling the flow of saidfuel-air mixture into said manifold, fan means for moving air adjacentto said tank means along its walls for cooling it by heat exchangetherebetween, drainage means for collecting the water condensed from thecooled air and reservoir means for preserving said collected condenserwater, said tank means including a vessel having a jacket formed by aninner wall and an outer wall connected by ribs, said supply meansincluding a float oscillatably arranged in the stored fuel and operatinga fuel valve that is closed when the predetermined level of the fuel isreached, said intake means including at least one tabular memberreaching in said vessel into the stored fuel and said charge deliverymeans including a check valve to pre-. vent back fire from reaching saiddeliquifying and said tank means.

3. Air cooler for motor vehicles, having an in ternal combustion engineprovided with a carburetor connected to an intake manifold through athrottle valve, comprising tank means adapted to store liquid fuel,supply means for keeping the stored fuel at a substantially constantlevel, intake means for drawing air from the atmosphere under vacuumthrough the stored fuel into said tank means for saturating it with fuelvapor, deliquifying means for separating the heavier fuel droplets fromsaid fuel vapor saturated air for returning them into said tank means,charge delivery means for introducing the deliquified fuel-air mixtureinto said manifold, regulator means for controlling the flow of saidfuel-air mixture into said manifold, fan means for moving air adjacentto said tank means along its walls for cooling it by heat exchangetherebetween, drainage means for collecting the water condensed from thecooled air and reservoir means for preserving saidcollected condensedwater, said tank means including a cylindrical closed vessel having ajacket formed by an inner wall and an outer wall connected by ribs, saidsupply means including a float oscillatably arranged in the stored fueland operating a fuel valve that is closed when the predetermined levelof the fuel is reached,said intake means including an air filter forcleaning theentering' air and at least one tubular member reaching insaid vessel into the stored fuel, said deliquifying means including aclosed vessel into which the fuel vapor saturated air is introduced andguided to flow in abruptly changed direction, said charge deliverymeansineluding a check valve to prevent back .fire from reaching saiddeliquifying and said tank means and said reservoir means includingawater filter for retaining solids. from the condenser water.

4. Air cooler for motor vehicles, having an internalcombustion engineprovided with a carburetor connected to an intake manifold through athrottle valve, comprising tank means adapted to store liquid fuel,supply means for keeping the stored fuel at a substantially constantlevel, intake means for drawing air from the atmosphere under vacuumthrough the stored fuel into said tank means for saturating it with fuelvapor,v deliquifying means for separating the heavier fuel droplets fromsaid fuel vapor saturated air for returning them into said tank means,charge delivery means for introducing the deliquified fuel-air mixtureinto said manifold, regulator means for controlling the flow of saidfuel-air mixture into said manifold, fan means for moving air adjacentto said tank means along its walls for cooling it by heat exchangetherebetween, drainage means for collecting the water condensed from thecooled air and reservoir means for preserving said condensed water, saidtank means including a substantially vertical cylindrical closed vesselhaving a jacket formed by an inner wall and an outer wall connected byribs and a header compartment communicating with said jacket at thebottom portion of said tank means, said supply means including a floatoscillatably arranged in the stored fuel and operating the fuel valvethat is closed when the predetermined level of the fuel is reached, saidintake means including a heat insulated chamber communicating with theatmosphere and accommodating an air filter for cleaning the entering airand at least one tubular member reaching in said vessel into the storedfuel and carrying an air diffuser head provided with a plurality ofholes to distribute the air in the stored fuel, said deliquifying meansincluding a closed vessel into Which the fuel vapor saturated air isintroduced and guided to fiow in abruptly changed directions, saidcharge delivery means including a check valve to prevent back fire fromreaching said deliquifying and said tank means and said reservoir meansincluding a water filter for retaining solids from the condensed water.

5. Air cooler for motor vehicles having an internal combustion engineprovided with acarburetor connected to an intake manifold through athrottle valve, comprising tank means adapted to store liquid fuel,supply means for keeping the stored fuel at a substantially constantlevel, intake means for drawing air from the atmosphere under vacuumthrough the stored fuel into said tank means for saturating it with fuelvapor, deliquifying means for separating the heavier fuel droplets fromsaid fuel vapor saturated air for returning them into said tank means,charge delivery means for introducing the deliquified fuel-air mixtureinto said manifold, regulator means for controlling the flow of saidfuel-air mixture into said manifold, fan means for moving air adjacentto said tank.

12 means along its walls-for cooling it by heatexchange therebetween,drainage means for col- :lecting the water condensed from the cooled airand reservoir means for preserving said condensed water, said tank meansincluding a substantially vertical closed vessel having a jacket formedby an inner wall and an outer wall connected by ribs and a headercompartment communicating with said jacket at the bottomportion of saidtank means, which also include tubular risers protruding upwardlythrough the stored fuel, said supply means including a float chambercommunicating with said tank means and a float oscillatably arranged-insaid chamber and operating a fuel valvethat is. closed when thepredetermined level of the fuel is reached, said intake means includingan air filter for cleaning the-entering air and a plurality oftubularmembers reaching in said vessel into the stored fuel, said deliquifyingmeans including a closed vessel into which the fuel vapor saturated airis introduced and guided to flow in abruptly changed directions, saidcharge delivery means including a check valve to prevent back fire fromreaching said deliquefying and said tank means and said reservoir meansincluding a water filter for retaining solids from the condensed water.

6. Air cooler for motor vehicles according to claim 5 in which saidintake means include a heat insulated chamber communicating with theatmosphere and accommodating an air filter for cleaning the enteringair.

7. Air cooler for motor vehicles according "to claim 1 in which saidregulator means include a throttle valve tied to said engine throttlevalve for simultaneous opening and closing, respectively.

8. Air cooler for motor vehicles according to claim 4 in which saidregulator means include a throttle valve tied to said engine throttlevalve for simultaneous opening and closing, respectively.

9. Air cooler for motor vehicles according to claim 5 in which saidregulator means include a throttle valve tied to said engine throttlevalve for simultaneous opening and closing, respectively.

10. Air cooler for motor vehicles having an internal combustion engineprovided with a carburetor connected to an intake manifold through athrottle valve, comprising tank means adapted to store liquid fuel,supply means for keeping the stored fuel at a substantiallyconstantlevel, in take means for drawing air from the atmosphere under vacuumthrough the stored fuel into said tank means for saturating it with fuelvapors, deliquifying means for separating the heavier fuel droplets fromsaid fuel vapor saturated air for returning them into said tank means,charge delivery means for introducing the deliquified fuel-air mixtureinto said manifold, regulator means controlling the flow of said mixturethereinto and fan means for moving air adjacent to said tank means,along its walls for cooling it by heat exchange therebetween, saidintake means including a heat insulated chamber communicating with theatmosphere and with said tank means, an air filter inserted between saidchamber and said tank means to form a sole passage therebetween andselectively operative drainage means carried by said chamber wherebyliquids may be discharged therefrom and the fuel in said tank means isprotected from air-borne tamin t a t r:

11. Air cooler for motor vehicles having an internal combustion engineprovided with a carburetor connected to an intake manifold through athrottle valve, comprising tank means adapted to store liquid fuel,supply means for keeping the stored fuel at a substantially constantlevel, intake means for drawing air from the atmosphere under vacuumthrough the stored fuel into said tank means for saturating it with fuelvapors, deliquifying means for separating the heavier fuel droplets fromsaid fuel vapor saturated air for returning them into said tank means,charge delivery means for introducing the deliquified fuel-air mixtureinto said manifold, regulator means controlling the flow of said mixturethereinto and fan means for moving air adjacent to said tank means,along its walls for cooling it byheat exchange therebetween, said intakemeans including a heat insulated chamber communicating with theatmosphere 20 and with said tank means, an air filter inserted betweensaid chamber and said tank means to form a sole passage therebetween,selectively operative drainage means carried by said chamber wherebyliquids may be discharged therefrom and the fuel in said tank means isprotected from air-borne contaminating matter, and bypass fuel-drainagemeans communicating with said tank means, for occasionally dischargingthe fuel from said tank means outside of the fuel container of saidvehicle.

WILLIAM W. GASKELL, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

